Keeping the birthday golf tradition alive on the gorgeous and highly challenging Old Course at The Omni Bedford Springs Resort. The beautiful Allegheny Mountains surround the historic course (c. 1895) while a babbling trout stream criss-crosses through it. Our room overlooked the golf course, allowing us to watch the blazing autumn sunsets. We both really appreciate the resort’s decor as a thoughtful combination of colonial and modern colonial. Its warm color palate, carpets, and lighting devices throughout the rooms and public spaces inspired us to look up the interior design company’s dossier. 3North’s Design Guide lists all of the architectural features, paint colors, textiles, wall coverings and even the color scheme for plants throughout the grounds. The common areas are super cozy and we made several contributions to the communal puzzle, which was finished as random puzzlers passed through the library. History abounds at Bedford Springs. In 1905, Bedford opened one of the first indoor pools in the country, while the Golf course is one of the oldest and has the oldest first tee in America.
Bedford Springs Resort is such an easy road trip from Columbus- only 4 1/2 hours (yet a world) away.
Read more about the Grande Dame of Cumberland Valley and The Power of Pampering at Springs Eternal Spa at Omni Bedford Springs Resort.
AN EPIC ROUND OF GOLF
We decided to golf 18 on the Old Course, which dates back to 1895 and was most recently restored to its original course layout. Surrounded by breathtaking views of the Allegheny Mountains, the Old Course has been designed and updated by three golf architectural masters—Spencer Oldham, A.W. Tillinghast and Donald Ross. I appreciate the course for its historical significance and was able to run the cart paths the last time we were here when it was seasonally closed. The fairways are beautifully manicured, but one quickly understands the length of the course and the challenging approaches to the greens.
Holes 4, 10 and 18 were EPIC!! Hole 4, known as “the Volcano” required teeing off UP a steep 40-foot cone-shaped hill to a blind green that drops off all sides into to bunkers. On hole 10, we had to shoot from the tee across a 55-foot ravine to the green- appropriately named “The Gulley”. The Old Course’s signature hole 18, “Home” is surrounded by sand and undulating terrain. Let’s just say we needed to hit up Hole 19 after this extremely challenging – but super fun- round! I would recommend this course for those who are a bit more seasoned golfers, but the driving range and club house are a low-key option to hit some balls and enjoy the environment.
